Diamond Tooth Taxidermy Blog:

Some time ago I was fortunate enough to receive a box full of magnificent vintage hats from old college chum Rebecca Strzelec. This was just weeks after embarking on my twenty4twenty project and I'd sent out a few of my hats with no response whatsoever. Seeing this giant box of beautiful hats on my doorstep reminded me that everything, every intention you put out into the universe comes back to you , but rarely in a form you'd expect.

These pieces had been sitting in her home, I believe, for years, and once she arrived at the conclusion that she had no use for them they became mine. All she asked in return was that three hats make it back to her: two for her daughter and one for her.

Let's start with mom:

I chose this base since it was just misting (dripping would be too much) with class and elegance. Very proper, like my friend.

For her child, there were two smaller hats. This first one I bent the brim to give it a more formal feel but the actual material was so delicate that it proved quite challenging to work with.

I added miscellaneous feathers and sourced gems:

This base was much easier to work with. Plus I have a huge sift spot in my heart for bonnets so it was a natural fun piece.

I added chicken wings, a chicken foot and switched out the white button for a pearlescent pink bead in the talon and on each side, plus a poof of white fox fur for good measure.

So that's that. I was very touched to be given such a magnificent gift from Rebecca. She is an amazing, talented and accomplished woman whom I am honored to even associate with.

Also I am short on words today because sometimes life beats the vocab out of you. More soon.